Mauna Ulu from Puʻu Huluhulu Crater, Kilauea, Hawaii, United States
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19.3668° N155.2010° WBortle 2Honolulu

Mauna Ulu Photography Guide

Volcano in Hawaii County, Hawaii

  • Bortle 2 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 245°–295°
  • Clearest: January
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct
Photo: Navin75 · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source

Mauna Ulu is a volcano in Hawaii County, Hawaii. It sits roughly 9.1 km (5.7 mi) SSE of Volcano.

Maunaulu, also known as Mauna Ulu, is a volcanic cone in the eastern rift zone of the Kīlauea volcano on the island of Hawaiʻi. It falls within the bounds of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Maunaulu was in a state of eruption from May 1969 to July 1974.From the Wikipedia article “Maunaulu”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Volcano
9.1 km (5.7 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 2
Typical truly dark site
Clearest month
January
50% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
7.8 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:29 PM
sunset 5:59 PM

Light at Mauna Ulu

Live
Sunrise
6:17 AM
Sunset
5:55 PM
Golden hour AM
6:04 AM – 6:47 AM
Golden hour PM
5:25 PM – 6:09 PM
Blue hour AM
5:55 AM – 6:04 AM
Blue hour PM
6:09 PM – 6:17 PM
Full darkness
7:08 PM – 5:04 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 72%
Moonrise / set
2:27 PM / 1:23 AM
Day length
11h 38m
Sunrise azimuth
101°
Sunset azimuth
259°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in Pacific/Honolulu. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise & sunset directions

At Mauna Ulu the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 65° (ENE) at the June solstice and 115° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 295° (WNW) in June to 245° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 86° in summer but only 47° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)6:26 AM90° E6:32 PM270° W71°12h 07m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:44 AM65° ENE7:02 PM295° WNW86°13h 18m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:10 AM89° E6:18 PM271° W71°12h 08m
December solstice (Dec 21)6:51 AM115° ESE5:49 PM245° WSW47°10h 58m

Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.

Golden hour & blue hour by month

Volcanic cones and lava fields have strong shapes that read well in side-light; dark basalt needs careful exposure.

Month (15th)Blue hour startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January6:35 AM6:58 AM7:30 AM5:32 PM6:04 PM6:27 PM11h 05m
February6:28 AM6:50 AM7:20 AM5:52 PM6:21 PM6:44 PM11h 31m
March6:08 AM6:30 AM6:59 AM6:02 PM6:31 PM6:53 PM12h 01m
April5:41 AM6:04 AM6:33 AM6:10 PM6:39 PM7:01 PM12h 35m
May5:23 AM5:47 AM6:17 AM6:19 PM6:50 PM7:13 PM13h 03m
June5:19 AM5:43 AM6:15 AM6:29 PM7:01 PM7:25 PM13h 18m
July5:28 AM5:52 AM6:23 AM6:32 PM7:03 PM7:27 PM13h 11m
August5:40 AM6:02 AM6:32 AM6:20 PM6:50 PM7:13 PM12h 47m
September5:47 AM6:09 AM6:38 AM5:56 PM6:25 PM6:47 PM12h 15m
October5:54 AM6:16 AM6:45 AM5:29 PM5:59 PM6:21 PM11h 43m
November6:07 AM6:30 AM7:01 AM5:12 PM5:43 PM6:06 PM11h 13m
December6:24 AM6:48 AM7:20 AM5:14 PM5:46 PM6:10 PM10h 58m

Local time (Pacific/Honolulu), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.

Milky Way & night sky

From Mauna Ulu, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 7.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 42° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—7°—
February4:06 AM – 5:36 AM1.527°SE → SE
March2:14 AM – 5:14 AM3.038°SE → SSE
April12:14 AM – 4:44 AM4.542°SE → S
May10:09 PM – 4:19 AM6.242°SE → SSW
June8:24 PM – 4:14 AM7.842°SE → SW
July8:25 PM – 2:55 AM6.542°SSE → SW
August8:07 PM – 12:47 AM4.742°S → SW
September7:38 PM – 10:48 PM3.239°SSW → SW
October7:12 PM – 8:52 PM1.728°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—9°—
DecemberBelow 10° in darkness—-17°—

Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.

Estimated sky darkness: 2 Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.74 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show January as the clearest month (about 50% average cloud cover) and March as the cloudiest (62%). August is the warmest month and February the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.

Average cloud cover (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F797778767981808382797876
Low °F504648525355565656565350
Precip. (in)5.66.68.67.75.44.24.75.44.85.36.76.6

Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.

Photography tips for this volcano

  • Check local volcanic activity notices and area closures before visiting.
  • Snow-capped volcanoes reflect alpenglow at sunrise — shoot from a lake or meadow for a reflection.
  • Lava rock is sharp and unstable; stay on trails.
  • Long lenses from 20–60 miles away make large stratovolcanoes dominate the horizon.
  • Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.

Season: Summer for high trails; winter and spring for snowy cones viewed from below.

Suggested gear: Telephoto lens, Tripod, Sturdy boots. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.

Nearby photo spots

Other locations within 25 km of Mauna Ulu, closest first.

Scenic Viewpoint
Mau Loa O Mauna Ulu Overlook2.2 km away · Hawaii County · 902 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Kīpuka Kahāli‘i Overlook2.8 km away · Hawaii County · 930 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Muliwai a Pele Overlook4.1 km away · Hawaii County · 757 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Pu‘u Pua‘i Overlook6.8 km away · Hawaii County · 1,125 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Hālona Kahakai Overlook7.3 km away · Hawaii County · 597 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Alanui Kahiko Overlook8.2 km away · Hawaii County · 251 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Keanakāko‘i Overlook8.2 km away · Hawaii County · 1,085 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Hōlei Pali Overlook8.5 km away · Hawaii County · 204 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Halema‘uma‘u Overlook9.6 km away · Hawaii County · 1,037 m

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Mauna Ulu?
January has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Summer for high trails; winter and spring for snowy cones viewed from below.
What time is golden hour at Mauna Ulu?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:29 PM and ends after sunset at about 5:59 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 6:45 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Mauna Ulu?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 65° in June to 115° in December; sunset ranges from 295° to 245°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Mauna Ulu?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Mauna Ulu?
Personal photography from public land rarely needs a permit. Commercial shoots, models, large groups and drones may require permission from the land manager — check before you go.
How far is Mauna Ulu from Volcano?
About 9.1 km (5.7 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

Sources

Location data: Wikidata, Wikipedia. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.